Vet's Clinic with Liam Moriarty - Starter Pets

Thursday, 29 April 2010

Guinea Pigs

Guidelines for kids:

. They are docile and easy to handle . Indoor or outdoor hutches . Social animals so best kept in pairs (same sex unless you want more) . Mature around 3 months of age . Need vitamin C - most animals can produce their own vitamin C but guinea pigs cannot . Fresh fruit for Vitamin C, green vegetables, dry mix and hay or grass is an appropriate diet

Hamsters

. Nice pet - simple housing needs and relatively odourless . They fight so are best housed alone . However nocturnal so not always great for kids . Best picked up in cupped hands . Make sure that cage is escape proof . Plenty of bedding should be used - sawdust or wood chippings . Avoid cotton wool bedding as ingestion can result in constipation . feed on commercial rodent mix - they are used to a fairly dry environment so they don't need too much vegetable matter . water should be freely available

Gerbils

. Desert animals . Rodent mix. Don't need much water . They mate for life . Usually kept alone - if under 8 weeks can form pairs

Rats and mice

. Mice not great pets . Rats are better - form a good bond with owner and respond to their name . They are escape artists - make sure cage is secure. . Pellet food, not too much seeds and nuts. Generally rats are easier to handle than mice - they don't tend to bite so much . Care to make sure same sex pairs as population explosions are common!

For all of these pets...

. Make sure to select a healthy pet to begin with, look out for runny eyes/nose, scabs or sores on skin. Make sure they are kept in a clean environment in pet shop . Watch our for coughing, sneezing or "wet tail" (diarrhoea) . Rodents that fight may need to be separated . Temperature is important - susceptible to heat stroke especially guinea pigs . Pneumonia is common - often with poor hygiene. Cage needs to be cleaned regularly. Clean bedding essential. Shredded paper or wood shavings best. Ventilation is important too . Pelleted food is best. Be careful about mixed seeds and nuts - can be too high in fat. Fruit and vegetables. Make sure cage/hutch is escape proof. . Toys are a good idea to keep them busy, they also need a place to hide in their cage . Avoid "open track" wheels - they can get their legs caught and be injured.